Jurors heard how officers from West Midlands Police and the force’s helicopter had been ‘lured’ to a petrol bomb attack on the Bartons Arms in Aston and then shot at on August 10, 2011.

Last week Lewis’ co-defendants Tyrone Laidley, 20, of Nechells, Birmingham; Nicholas Francis, 26, of Great Barr, Birmingham; Renardo Farrell, 20, of Finchfield, Wolverhampton and Wayne Collins, 25, of Ouseley Close, Luton, Bedfordshire, were found guilty of rioting, arson being reckless as to whether life was endangered and possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life.

Jermaine Lewis (Picture: West Midlands Police)

A 17-year-old boy who cannot be named for legal reasons was convicted of rioting and firearms possession but cleared of arson.

Jurors in the case were shown CCTV footage of a gunman, claimed by the prosecution to be Laidley, firing at the police helicopter.

Joyah Campbell, 19, of Hanover Court, Aston, and another 17-year-old who cannot be named were last week acquitted of rioting, arson and firearms possession.

Andrew Lockhart QC said the aircraft was fired at 12 times within minutes of officers arriving at the pub blaze.

Officers were also targeted with bricks, steels tubes and furniture before shots were fired.